Re: Just what we need - more of these kooks out there again

Only pic I want to see of this pos is him swinging from a noose.

On Thu, Aug 19, 2010 at 8:41 PM, dick thompson <rhomp2002@earthlink.net> wrote:

Aug 19, 5:35 PM EDT Antiwar activists rally around soldier suspected of leaking classified material to WikiLeaks By DAVID DISHNEAU Associated Press Writer

AP Photo Advertisement Buy AP Photo Reprints HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The Army private suspected in one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history has become a hero to many anti-war activists who have joined an international effort to free him. At demonstrations this month in New York, Oklahoma City and Quantico, Va., where Army Pfc. Bradley Manning is being held, dozens of supporters have shouted that "Blowing the whistle on war crimes is not a crime." The same slogan appears beside Manning's smiling face on buttons and posters offered by Courage to Resist, an Oakland, Calif.-based support group for U.S. troops who refuse to fight. The group has raised about $45,000 from nearly 750 people in 18 countries to help pay for a civilian defense lawyer for Manning, project director Jeff Paterson said. "I think we have an imperative to support those people who've seen the horrors of battle and want to share that reality with the American people," Paterson said. Manning, 22, a former intelligence analyst in Baghdad, faces possible court-martial on charges that he illegally downloaded classified material. If tried and convicted, he could be sentenced to 52 years in prison. The material he allegedly leaked included 2007 video of a laughing U.S. Apache helicopter crew gunning down 11 men who were later found to include a Reuters news photographer and his driver. The Pentagon concluded the troops acted appropriately. The video was posted in April on WikiLeaks, a self-professed whistleblower website, and labeled "Collateral Murder." The Pentagon suspects Manning is also the source of 77,000 classified Afghan war reports that WikiLeaks posted in July and 15,000 more such documents that WikiLeaks says it intends to publish in coming weeks. U.S. officials say the disclosures have endangered innocent people or confidential informants. Manning, a Crescent, Okla., native who lived in Potomac, Md., before joining the Army, has been assigned military lawyers who declined to comment on the charges. He has not yet retained a civilian attorney. He was arrested in May after telling an online confidant, who later turned him in to authorities, that he had sent classified information to WikiLeaks. Some consider Manning's alleged actions treasonous. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., has said that if Manning is charged and convicted of leaking the Afghan war documents, he should be executed for aiding the enemy. But JoAnna Pease, 27, a graduate student in women's studies from Venice, Calif., said watching the Apache helicopter video made her want more unvarnished facts about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Somebody needed to stand up and provide this information," she said. "Regardless of who it is, they're really more an American hero than any sort of criminal." Pease and 28-year-old Laraine Reitman, a San Diego writer, are steering committee members of the Bradley Manning Support Network, launched by Mike Gogulski, a U.S. citizen living in Bratislava, Slovakia. Neither woman considered herself an anti-war activist before seeing the helicopter video; now they find themselves plotting strategy alongside seasoned demonstrators like Paterson and Gerry Condon, a Vietnam-era war protester who heads the Seattle branch of Veterans for Peace. Some of the causes Manning embraced haven't embraced him. He told his online confidant, former computer hacker Adrian Lamo, "I want people to see the truth ... because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public," according to their chat logs. But open-records advocates don't necessarily support Manning. Steven Aftergood, who heads a project on government secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists, said WikiLeaks has been indiscriminate in releasing the Afghan war logs - and that Manning, if he is the source, would bear some responsibility for that. A U.S. crackdown on WikiLeaks could hurt freedom-of-information reform efforts, he said. "Any tools that are used against WikiLeak are likely to be used against other organizations and media outlets, and that would do long-term damage to freedom of the press," Aftergood said. Manning expressed support on his Facebook page for gay rights including Repeal the Ban, which seeks to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals serving in the military. But the American Veterans For Equal Rights, which also opposes "don't ask, don't tell," says Manning is a traitor. "The guy is disturbed and it's not because he's gay," said Denny Meyer, the group's national spokesman. "If he were sentenced to death, I'd volunteer to pull the trigger." © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Click here for copyright permissions! Copyright 2008 Associated Press

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Just what we need - more of these kooks out there again

Aug 19, 5:35 PM EDT Antiwar activists rally around soldier suspected of leaking classified material to WikiLeaks By DAVID DISHNEAU Associated Press Writer

AP Photo Advertisement Buy AP Photo Reprints HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The Army private suspected in one of the largest unauthorized disclosures of classified information in U.S. history has become a hero to many anti-war activists who have joined an international effort to free him. At demonstrations this month in New York, Oklahoma City and Quantico, Va., where Army Pfc. Bradley Manning is being held, dozens of supporters have shouted that "Blowing the whistle on war crimes is not a crime." The same slogan appears beside Manning's smiling face on buttons and posters offered by Courage to Resist, an Oakland, Calif.-based support group for U.S. troops who refuse to fight. The group has raised about $45,000 from nearly 750 people in 18 countries to help pay for a civilian defense lawyer for Manning, project director Jeff Paterson said. "I think we have an imperative to support those people who've seen the horrors of battle and want to share that reality with the American people," Paterson said. Manning, 22, a former intelligence analyst in Baghdad, faces possible court-martial on charges that he illegally downloaded classified material. If tried and convicted, he could be sentenced to 52 years in prison. The material he allegedly leaked included 2007 video of a laughing U.S. Apache helicopter crew gunning down 11 men who were later found to include a Reuters news photographer and his driver. The Pentagon concluded the troops acted appropriately. The video was posted in April on WikiLeaks, a self-professed whistleblower website, and labeled "Collateral Murder." The Pentagon suspects Manning is also the source of 77,000 classified Afghan war reports that WikiLeaks posted in July and 15,000 more such documents that WikiLeaks says it intends to publish in coming weeks. U.S. officials say the disclosures have endangered innocent people or confidential informants. Manning, a Crescent, Okla., native who lived in Potomac, Md., before joining the Army, has been assigned military lawyers who declined to comment on the charges. He has not yet retained a civilian attorney. He was arrested in May after telling an online confidant, who later turned him in to authorities, that he had sent classified information to WikiLeaks. Some consider Manning's alleged actions treasonous. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., has said that if Manning is charged and convicted of leaking the Afghan war documents, he should be executed for aiding the enemy. But JoAnna Pease, 27, a graduate student in women's studies from Venice, Calif., said watching the Apache helicopter video made her want more unvarnished facts about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Somebody needed to stand up and provide this information," she said. "Regardless of who it is, they're really more an American hero than any sort of criminal." Pease and 28-year-old Laraine Reitman, a San Diego writer, are steering committee members of the Bradley Manning Support Network, launched by Mike Gogulski, a U.S. citizen living in Bratislava, Slovakia. Neither woman considered herself an anti-war activist before seeing the helicopter video; now they find themselves plotting strategy alongside seasoned demonstrators like Paterson and Gerry Condon, a Vietnam-era war protester who heads the Seattle branch of Veterans for Peace. Some of the causes Manning embraced haven't embraced him. He told his online confidant, former computer hacker Adrian Lamo, "I want people to see the truth ... because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public," according to their chat logs. But open-records advocates don't necessarily support Manning. Steven Aftergood, who heads a project on government secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists, said WikiLeaks has been indiscriminate in releasing the Afghan war logs - and that Manning, if he is the source, would bear some responsibility for that. A U.S. crackdown on WikiLeaks could hurt freedom-of-information reform efforts, he said. "Any tools that are used against WikiLeak are likely to be used against other organizations and media outlets, and that would do long-term damage to freedom of the press," Aftergood said. Manning expressed support on his Facebook page for gay rights including Repeal the Ban, which seeks to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals serving in the military. But the American Veterans For Equal Rights, which also opposes "don't ask, don't tell," says Manning is a traitor. "The guy is disturbed and it's not because he's gay," said Denny Meyer, the group's national spokesman. "If he were sentenced to death, I'd volunteer to pull the trigger." © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Click here for copyright permissions! Copyright 2008 Associated Press

Obama Mulls Fatwa Against 24% Who Think He's Muslim

Obama Mulls Fatwa Against 24% Who Think He's Muslim

by Scott Ott for ScrappleFace

(2010-08-19) -- The White House today refused to comment on reports that President Barack Obama has considered seeking a fatwa -- a kind of religious ruling -- against the 24 percent of Americans who incorrectly think he's a Muslim. However, the president did clarify that a fatwa, despite popular misconception, does not necessarily involve a death sentence. [READ THE REST...]

For Scott Ott's non-satirical take on the Ground Zero mosque, listen as he guesthosts Stubborn Facts Radio, and watch the new episode of Trifecta on PJTV.

3414 W. Union St., Allentown, PA 18104, USA

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Public Policy Polling: Obama a Negative Influence (Dems running like rats from Obummer)

Public Policy Polling: Obama a Negative Influence (Dems running like rats from Obummer) Scotty Starnes | August 19, 2010 at 5:17 PM | Tags: Barack Obama, Blame it on Bush, Bush, Chicago, Democrats, Democrats running from Obama, Illinois, Obama, Obama endorsement, President Obama | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/pvnFC-2jU

The hope and change ship is sinking and the democRATS are jumping into the friendly waters.

Public Policy Polling reports:

Illinois voters say they would be negatively influenced if a candidate was endorsed by Barack Obama. And if his support isn't an asset in his home state it's hard to imagine where it is.

40% of voters in the state say they'd be less likely to support an Obama endorsed candidate to only 26% who say it would be an asset. The reality at this point is that Obama turns Republican voters off to a much greater extent than he excites Democrats. That's reflected in the fact that 83% of Republicans say an Obama endorsement would be a negative with them while only 49% of Democrats say it would be a positive. Independents also respond negatively by a 38/19 margin.

The numbers on an Obama endorsement are perhaps more relevant with undecided voters. Among those who have not yet made up their minds in the Senate race 21% say an Obama endorsement would resonate positively with them while 33% say it would be a turnoff.

Damn that George Bush. He is the one making Obama's words and policies look bad. Thought I'd blame Bush before Obama or other lefties get the chance.

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**JP** While the world donates, where Are Pakistan's Millionaire Politicians?

May Allah sieze all their stolen properties and rains it on the nation, and blacken the faces of these looters! Where are Zardari's & Nawaz and Co.'s billions? And soon they will be running around for votes, posing as saviors!!!

Sent: Thu, August 19, 2010 1:58:44 PM
Subject: PakNationalists - Where Are Pakistan's Millionaire Politicians?

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Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium

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Where Are Pakistan's Millionaire Politicians?

 

 

SPECIAL REPORT

Thursday, 19 August 2010.

WWW.PAKNATIONALITS.COM

 

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—This is a lesson for the whole Pakistani nation. If you are a Pakistani reading this, please tell others.

 

While the world's rich dole out money to help Pakistan's flood victims, Pakistan's rich political elite refuses to budge. By now we should have been seeing members of this ruling elite buying tents, building shelters and providing gallons of clean drinking water to the homeless millions.

 

But in every flooded district of the country, you will see Pakistani civilian and military volunteers. But not the politicians.

 

Consider this:

 

On the first day of a nationwide Saudi campaign to raise funds for the victims of floods in Pakistan on Monday, 17 Aug. 2010:

 

-         King of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, donated US$5.3 million from his private money to Pakistan flood victims

 

-         Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdelzziz Al Saud gave away US$2.7 million from his private money

 

-         Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdelaziz Al Saud gave away two million Saudi riyals

 

-         Governor of Tabouk donated one million Saudi Riyals

 

-         Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdelaziz Al Saud gave ten million Saudi riyals

 

-         Businessman Eesa bin Mohammad al Eesa, president of the Samba Financial Group, donated two million Saudi riyals

 

This is not to mention the sight of Saudi women who thronged public aid collection camps in different Saudis cities and were photographed by the international media donating their jewelry to King Abdullah's campaign in support of Pakistan.

 

Compare this to the reaction of the Pakistani elite:

 

-         Pakistan's president, a billionaire in dollar terms by some accounts, is yet to donate anything or even be seen donating anything anywhere. There were reports he donated Rs. five million to a fund named after his son and daughter, and only Rs. one million to the government fund. This is less than what he might have spent wandering in France and Britain earlier this month.

 

-         The most shocking part is that the PPPP is trying to milk large companies out of relief money for private party funds. This means that the party is quietly trying to direct aid money to private funds rather than relief funds run by the government or the Pakistani military. The ruling party is reported to have convened a meeting in the business hub city of Karachi where leading businessmen were asked to donate to a Bakhtawar Fund, named after the president's elder daughter. The meeting was chaired by president's sister, senator Faryal Talpur. But she failed to get a pledge for a single rupee from any attending businessmen.

 

-         The Sharif family has donated Rs. 10 million, which is peanuts compared to what the family could have donated. Not to mention that no one knows how this amount will be spent. Pakistanis are yet to see any member of the Sharif clan seeing off trucks carrying relief goods or opening clean water plants in the affected areas.

 

-         None of the one thousand members of the federal and provincial parliaments have been sighted at any of the affected regions helping people or distributing aid. If anything, a few of the shameless politicians were quick to jump in front of visiting TV crews. One of them, from Sindh, was seen seated in a boat run by the army for the media giving out an interview to a leading anchor. The politician was pretending as if he was organizing the rescue operations in Sindh.

 

-         Forget helping people, a senior member of the PPPP from Balochistan is accusing two influential feudal members of PPPP Sindh of diverting flood waters to Balochistan and creating a humanitarian crisis there to save their vast landholdings in Sindh. This is a serious allegation that merits investigation and stern punishment if proven. But who will do it? And what is more important: private feudal landholdings or the lives of thousands of poor people? Don't ask Pakistani politicians, obviously.

 

-         An unusual situation in Pakistan is that the country's closed club of political elite monopolizes large chunks of the economy. So these politicians control everything, benefit from inflation, pay no taxes and are under no obligation to donate generously when fellow countrymen are in need.

 

-         The Pakistan Army donated a day's salary of its soldiers, who come from poor backfrounds, for the relief effort. No politician is yet to take a similar step. And we are talking about a bunch of people who arrive at the federal parliament in Islamabad in expensive imported luxury cars, wearing expensive watches and jewelry and looking awash in wealth.

 

-         The millionaires and billionaires in the Pakistani business community, unlike the politicians, are donating directly to the victims in the affected areas but refuse to route the money through the coffers of a government run by this political elite.

 

The conclusion is this: while the country reels under a humanitarian tragedy, it is the Pakistani middle class, the Pakistani business class, a couple of religious charities and the armed forces that have come to the rescue of their fellow countrymen during a disaster. They will always step up to help their countrymen.

 

Pakistan's politicians, among them the nation's richest, will disappeared in a flash during a crisis like they have done now.

 

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